US3478382A - Sealed ball transfer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18, 1969 M. NOSENZO SEALED BALL TRANSFER Filed July 5, 1967 United States Patent US. CI. 1644 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sealed ball transfer in which the main ball is resiliently mounted with respect to a housing, and in which the sealing means is snapped directly upon the ball to move with the same under deflection.

This invention relates generally to the field of ball transfers, of a type in which a plurality of the same may be mounted upon a horizontal or other surface for the purpose of facilitating the sliding movement of containers or other articles thereover. Devices of the instant type are known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details which permit the obtaining of a sealed main ball which will be relatively impervious to the deleterious elfects of dirt, dust and other foreign material, while yet permitting the ball to resiliently flex within a housing within which it is mounted, this end being obtained by forming the ball sealing means in such manner that it is independent with respect to permissive movement of said housing.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a sealed ball transfer of the type described in which the sealing means directly engages the main ball surface as a sliding fit, while not being readily disengaged with resilient axial flexing of the ball with respect to the housing in which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved sealed ball transfer, possessed of the above advantage, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved sealed ball transfer which may be conveniently fabricated using existing production techniques, and without resort to special skills.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved sealed ball transfer of the type described which, owing to its improved constructional features, may have a relatively long, trouble-free, useful life.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved sealed ball transfer in which the main ball is resiliently mounted with respect to the housing in which it is installed, thereby permitting the device to offer shock cushioning properties not available in the prior art.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the relative ease of assembly of the same during manufacture.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal central view of an embodiice ment of the invention, as seen from the plane 11 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view, as seen from the left hand portion of FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a casing element 11, a resilient element 12, a ball unit element 13, and ball unit sealing means 14.

The casing element 11 is preferably formed from sheet metal drawings or stampings, and includes a lower orificed member 15, bounded by an outer periphery 16, and including a planar member 17, a conical member 18 interconnected thereto, and a planar inner member 19 having an orifice 20 therein for accommodation of a main ball 21 of conventional type, preferably formed from carbon steel.

Interconnected with the member 15 is an upper orifice member 22, including a planar outer member 23, a cylindrically shaped member 24, and an orificed planar inner member 25 defining a circular opening 26 which accommodates a spring housing 27.

The housing 27 includes an end wall 28, an upper cylindrical wall 29, a radially outwardly disposed flange 30, a lower cylindrical wall 31, and a radially inwardly directed. flange 32. An upper recess 33 accommodates a compression spring 34, while a lower recess 35 accommodates the above mentioned ball unit element 13.

Rivet means 36 interconnects the members 15 and 22, sandwiching therebetween a flexible orifice member 37 of neoprene or similar material which forms part of the sealing means 14.

The ball unit element 13 includes an upper housing 38 enclosing a plurality of smaller ball bearings 39 maintained thereagainst, and against the inwardly disposed surface of the main ball 21 by a retaining member 40. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the member 40 includes an upper portion 41 forming a ball-retaining trough 42, and a lower member 43 which engages the upper surface 44 of the member 37, and defines an opening 45 co-extensive therewith.

The ball unit sealing means 14 also includes a molded nylon shield 46 adapted to be snapped directly upon the ball 21 (FIGURE 3). It is bounded by a spheroidal inner peripheral surface 47, a lower outer surface 48, and a notched portion 4'9 which'accommodates, in addition to the members 37 and 43, a spring steel ring 50 which, in effect, closes the openings in the members 37 and 43.

It will be observed that under deflection, the entire ball unit element 13 can flex between an outermost limit in Which the retaining member 40 contacts the flange 32, and an innermost limit in which the upper housing 38 contacts the flange 30. During the entire range of this deflection, the shield 46 will move with the ball 21, irrespective of the presence of simultaneous rotation of said ball.- Owing to the knife edge formed by the meeting of the surface 48 and the surface 47, the ball is constantly scraped clean of foreign material.

I wish it to be understoodthat I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a sealed ball transfer, a housing element, a ball unit element mounted within said housing element for limited movement with respect thereto, along a principal axis thereof, resilient means urging said ball element to a limit of travel Within said housing in which said ball unit projects outwardly of said housing through an orifice therein; said ball unit including a main ball, a plurality of spherical bearings supporting said ball, and a cup- 5 shaped member retaining said spherical hearings in position; and means for preventing the entry of foreign material from the surface of said main ball, said means including a shield of distortable material bounded by a semispheroidal inner surface corres onding to the outer surface of said main hall, and resiliently engaged therewith.

2. Structure in accordance With claim 1, including a flexible planar sealing member interconnecting said shield and said housing.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1964 Great Britain.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

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